<section><h2><h1><strong>Relationship self-care</strong></h1></h2><p><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;"></span></p><p dir="ltr">Are your relationships positive and rewarding? Answer these questions to get some tips on how you could improve your relationship self-care.</p><br />Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with the next statements.<br /></p></section><section><h2><h2><strong>Low relationship self-care</strong></h2></h2><p><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr">When life is busy, it can be hard to prioritise your relationships. </p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">Research suggests that surrounding yourself with positive relationships can be an important way to improve your overall wellbeing and re-energise when times get tough. </p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">How do you invest in your relationship self-care? These activities can help:</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Schedule time with people whose company you enjoy, catch up with old friends you haven’t seen in a while, and join in special events such as birthdays and celebrations.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Create a <a href="https://www.dradamfraser.com/blog-content/2016/11/7/the-third-space" target="_blank">‘third space’</a> between work and home where you can go on your after-school commute. Stop off at a local park, take a short walk, or even sit for five minutes in your car in the driveway. While you’re there, reflect on what went well that day, and take a moment to rest and reset so you don’t bring work stress home with you.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ask for help from those you trust whenever you think you need it.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Check in with yourself before saying ‘yes’ to everything: sometimes what you really need is a quiet day spent alone.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">If you can’t make it to a catch-up with a friend, reschedule it instead of just cancelling.</p></li></ul><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;"></span></p></p></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Moderate relationship self-care</strong></h2></h3><p><p><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr">It looks like you’ve already taken steps to surround yourself with good relationships. Continue building your resilience by adding more relationship self-care strategies into your life.</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">How do you invest in your relationship self-care? These activities can help:</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Connect with old friends, acquaintances or networks by organising an event or catch-up.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Manage your personal communications by going through old unanswered emails and messages and reaching out to people whose friendship you value.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Commit to a regular joint activity with someone who is important to you, such as a weekly bike ride with your kids or a fortnightly call with your parents.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Reflect on any<a href="https://www.relationships.org.au/relationship-advice/relationship-advice-sheets/relationship-difficulties-1/normal-differences-and-warning-signs-of-a-relationship-breakdown" target="_blank"> negative relationships </a>you might have and come up with a plan to manage them.<br /></p></li></ul></p></section><section><h3><h2><strong>High relationship self-care</strong></h2></h3><p><p><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr">Congratulations! It sounds like you understand the importance of relationship self-care, and of maintaining and strengthening the relationships you value. </p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr">If you want to push yourself even further, consider the following activities:</p><p dir="ltr"> </p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Perform random acts of kindness for people you haven’t connected with in a while, or even for complete strangers.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Reach out to friends who might need additional support, and strengthen your connections with them by offering to help.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Take time to create and maintain physical spaces in your life that feel healthy, such as your home, garden or even your work desk, and share those spaces with others.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Reflect on your own social needs and develop a healthy balance between time you spend with others and time spent on your own. Both are important and in the right balance should leave you feeling positive.</p></li></ul></p></section><section><h2><h2><strong></strong></h2><h2>I stay in regular contact with people who are important to me, such as my partner, children, friends and family.<strong><br /></strong></h2></h2></section><section><h3><h2>I’m good at responding to personal communications from other people, such as calls, emails and messages. </h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>I prioritise relationships with people who make me feel good about myself and who also value our relationship. </h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>I can balance the time I need to myself well with time spent with other people.</h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>I share my feelings with those I trust and ask them for help when I need it.</h2></h3></section>